# Chapter 5
I looked out the window. The sparkling lights from buildings and cars blended with the rippling river water, showing beauty like a masterpiece painting.
“I heard Jihoon got accepted to Korea University? Chairman Do must be pleased.”
If I had known that the December 31st appointment would be like this, I would have escaped by any means necessary.
“Oh, it’s nice. He’s just taken his first step. I hear Yuri is also a Korea University student?”
“That’s right. As luck would have it, the kids got into the same school. I guess this is fate.”
My forced smile twitched at the corners. I cut my steak elegantly while looking at the extremely handsome guy sitting across from me.
Do Jihoon had perfect table manners too. His straight posture, his knife skills. I suppose this is what it takes to be the main character.
Both that guy and I were suffering greatly. What kind of situation is this on the happy year-end when we’re just becoming adults? This was practically a meeting between future in-laws.
I glared at my sister sitting next to me. Then our eyes met. My sister raised her eyebrows with a “what’s with you?” expression, so I had to shrink back and bow my head again.
“Then they can live together!”
What kind of crazy talk is that! I barely stopped the steak I was chewing from going down my windpipe and looked at my mother with shocked eyes.
“That’s right. The kids are adults now, and since both school and home are far, living together would be good.”
Do Jihoon’s mother agreed and fanned the flames. I thought about ways to overcome this terrible situation.
“…Mother. Yuri seems uncomfortable.”
But then, an unexpected voice was heard. Do Jihoon, who had been sitting like a statue in front of me, opened his mouth.
At Do Jihoon’s words, both sets of parents looked at me.
“Is that true, Yuri?”
Do Jihoon had set the stage, so now it was my turn to play along. I bowed my head deeply and fluttered my eyelashes slightly. To look like a delicate Omega frightened by the mention of living together.
“Yes… I haven’t talked much with Jihoon yet… Living together… seems too early. Would it be okay if I think about it while attending university?”
At my careful words, Do Jihoon’s parents waved their hands saying it was fine, that it was indeed too early, and comforted me. My parents and sister looked at me as if I were a talking cockroach.
“Thank you. Mother, Father. It’s still a bit awkward so… I’m sorry.”
With those words and a small smile, praise for me poured out from Do Jihoon’s parents.
“Yuri has grown up so well.”
While they said how well you’ve raised your son, and how blessed you are to have such an Omega son in today’s world, my parents only showed their perfect public smile.
Both sets of parents moved on to talk about business. I gently closed my ears, feeling like I was hearing an alien language. A science major who lived as a complete commoner wouldn’t understand these words.
After some time passed, it was time to end the gathering. My mother gently pressed down on my shoulder as I was about to get up naturally. It was the same for Do Jihoon. When I looked at my parents with a “surely not” expression, they said:
“You’re going to be engaged soon, so you should get closer. Chairman Do and his wife will leave with us first, so talk with Jihoon before you come home.”
“Dad, be honest. I’m adopted, right?”
Regardless of my fierce glare, my parents left with gentle smiles. Along with Do Jihoon’s parents.
Only Do Jihoon and I were left awkwardly in the KP Hotel lounge room. I swallowed hard and alternated between looking out the window, at the table, and at the ceiling.
“Sorry for the late introduction. Nice to meet you. I’m Do Jihoon.”
At the sudden voice, I finally had to look at Do Jihoon. I met those beautiful black eyes. Damn. He’s so handsome… I swallowed the curse that almost burst out. When I didn’t respond, Do Jihoon opened his mouth again, looking awkward.
“Um… was my greeting too awkward? Actually, we’ve passed by each other many times. Although we never talked.”
“Yeah.”
The main character had a nice voice too. How could a minor who would soon become an adult have such a deep, thick voice? Meanwhile, fortunately his pheromones were neatly organized. Though I hated to admit it, Do Jihoon’s pheromones were very effective on Yeon Yuri.
“But you’re a good actor.”
A calm voice flowed out. Do Jihoon spoke so casually that I wondered if he was being sarcastic or genuinely surprised.
“…What?”
“The delicate Omega act. My parents really like that kind of Omega.”
“I’m genuinely curious. Are you being sarcastic right now?”
“No. I’m just surprised. Everyone at our school knows your reputation. The parents too.”
“…What reputation?”
“That you really like to party. And that you got into Korea University through the international student admission.”
I wasn’t sure where to be surprised first. No wonder my parents would look at me with such amazement whenever I picked up a book at home. I had really gotten into Korea University through some kind of special admission. By accident.
And that I liked to party. I wondered how someone could party in a way that would spread rumors throughout the school.
“Do Jihoon. You know this is our first conversation, right?”
“Of course I know.”
But this guy.
“And you’re talking about all sorts of things? Are you trying to get straight to the point?”
“Isn’t that better than talking behind your back?”
My mouth fell open, stunned by his nonchalant words. Meanwhile, the guy was even drinking his beverage.
Was this how Yeon Yuri and Do Jihoon first met? Didn’t it say that Do Jihoon was too formal, which made Yeon Yuri upset?
But damn, this made me upset in a different way. He was speaking the truth, but it was the kind of truth that made me want to hit him.
Do Jihoon reached out and personally closed my gaping jaw, then continued.
“Try to understand. I don’t know when you heard the engagement news, but I just heard it yesterday. And that I’m engaged to you, who doesn’t care whether it’s Alpha or Beta.”
“…”
“Oh dear. You seem thirsty? This is a non-alcoholic cocktail. It’s sweet and delicious, so try it.”
He pushed the drink he had been drinking toward me. The bright smile on Do Jihoon’s face didn’t match the trash coming out of his mouth at all. I even wondered if this was a dream.
“…Hey.”
“Yes?”
“It seems like neither of us likes each other much.”
I leaned back in my chair, crossed my arms, and glared at him.
“But we still have to get married.”
“I’m surprised you realize that.”
“You son of a… Fine. Unlike me, you got into Korea University properly, so your brain works quickly.”
My neck was stiff. It felt better when I turned my head for a stretch.
“Let’s get married since it’s a promise between companies.”
“‘Get married’? Interesting choice of words.”
“Yes. And we don’t care who the other person dates.”
At my words, Do Jihoon quietly tapped the table with his finger. After thinking for a moment, he raised one corner of his mouth into a crooked smile.
“Is that possible? You and I are at the center of attention more than you think. If an affair is discovered, it’s over.”
“Put away that pathetic look. We can invite them home. Your lover pretends to be my friend, my lover pretends to be your friend. How about it? And what kind of world do we live in now? If we get caught, we can insist they’re just friends. No one points fingers at Alphas and Omegas being close friends.”
Do Jihoon smiled as if he found it virtuous. It was annoyingly handsome. He was handsome but also pretty. Is that what “handsomely pretty” means? If this guy wasn’t the main character in a novel and didn’t have character flaws, I might have liked him.
…Though I hated to admit it, I liked his scent too.
“…Not bad. But you know what.”
Do Jihoon suddenly brought his face very close. My entire view was filled with his handsome face. Whether he released his scent on purpose or not, a subtle sunlight smell spread sharply at the tip of my nose.
Come here. Come and nestle against me. Do Jihoon’s pheromones were saying that.
My mind became hazy. I felt the strength leaving my wide-open eyes. My body moved on its own. Toward Do Jihoon’s pheromone gland. The warm scent was getting closer. I was about to bury my nose in Do Jihoon’s neck.
I heard him chuckling near my ear. My senses suddenly returned. I jerked my head back and glared at him as if I wanted to burn him alive.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
